After launch, the Extendable Optical Bench (EOB), equivalent to the telescope's lens tube, was successfully extended. Observation then began and continued smoothly. In July 2000, however, the earth atmosphere expanded due to solar activity at that time. The satellite experienced friction caused by the thin atmosphere and started spinning. Finally, ASCA was unable to continue observation. Satellite operation continued with minimal functions, until, at around 14:20 on March 2, 2001, it entered the atmosphere and vanished.

Results

The successful results included the first imaging of X-ray objects by the scintillation proportional counter on March 17, 1993, and observation of X-rays from the supernova SN1993J recently discovered in the M81 galaxy.